Texans don’t need starters, but they’ll look for some finishers

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INDIANAPOLIS — For the first time since he became the Texans’ coach in 2006, Gary Kubiak did not come to the scouting combine looking for a starter in the NFL draft.

The Texans are coming off their best season — a 10-6 record, an AFC South title and a first-round playoff victory — and for the first time, they’re not desperate for a starter in the first round of the draft.

Aside from defensive tackle Amobi Okoye (2007), every first-round pick since Kubiak became coach started last season. The Texans have the 26th pick — tied for the lowest they’ve ever selected. General manager Rick Smith traded down two times in 2008 before he selected offensive tackle Duane Brown.

Even if the Texans lose outside linebacker Mario Williams in free agency, they won’t have to draft a starter to replace him because they have Connor Barwin and Brooks Reed.

That’s quite a contrast to last year, when the Texans were desperate to repair a defense that ranked 30th, including 32nd against the pass. They used their top five picks on defensive players, and the first two — defensive end J.J. Watt and Reed — started for a defense that improved to second in Wade Phillips’ first season as coordinator.

“Nothing we’ve done is going to change the way we approach the combine,” Kubiak said Wednesday. “I’m always going to approach the combine and the draft like we hope our first-round pick is good enough to start.

“Now, if he doesn’t end up starting, it shows how much better we’ve gotten as a team.”

Kubiak and Smith have brought a large contingent of Texans personnel, including scouts, executives, coaches, doctors and trainers. They’ll be able to interview 60 players for 15 minutes each. They’ll watch the workouts and prepare for the next part of the scouting process — pro days on college campuses.

Unlike last year, when Smith and vice president of football administration Chris Olsen found enough cap space to sign cornerback Johnathan Joseph and free safety Danieal Manning as free agents, the Texans won’t be active in free agency. Their plan is to re-sign their free agents — beginning with Williams — and to get others to sign extensions.

Not pursuing free agents on other teams places more emphasis on the draft. The Texans won’t disclose anything publicly, but they need a wide receiver. If Williams leaves, they’ll need an outside linebacker in the first two rounds. They’ll look for an interior offensive lineman.

And Kubiak’s philosophy is that a team can never have enough cornerbacks.

“Our philosophy hasn’t changed,” Kubiak said. “The draft is very important. We drafted very well last year and expect to again. This (combine) is an exciting part of the process.”